Imagine the glamorous life of an elite athlete, days filled with running, eating the perfect ratio of carbs to protein at every meal and having a massage therapist, physical therapist, coach and dietitian at your beck and call. Sounds like a dream, right?
For the purposes of this post, let’s suspend reality and forget about dealing with sponsors, having to literally earn every single paycheck though blood sweat and tears, ravaging your body for the good of sport and dealing with USATF. Humor me.
RUNNING: It’s actually your job now. Like wake-up in the morning, eat your extremely perfectly proportioned breakfast of jet fuel, pull on your brand new outfit that is free from your sponsor (same goes for your running shoes, of which you have 14 pair!) and head out the door to run. RUN! Because it’s your job! *Cue Chariots of Fire Soundtrack
FOOD: I’m listing this next because, besides running, eating is my absolute favorite thing to do. I dream about a day when I can tell someone my likes and dislikes, the type of training I’m doing and have them plan perfectly proportioned meals based on that information. I picture it prepared to my liking and ready when I am my stomach is at all times. Yes, these are the things I dream about! And I hope I can still have wine.
CLOTHING: Oh the clothing! You never have to think about what may be in the wash, or if that sports bra has seen it’s last training run. You have an overwhelming amount of shorts, shirts, socks and sports bras, that you could probably just toss them once you’ve worn them and *poof* new gear appears overnight. In fact, you must try the latest line of stuff before they market it to the minions because the lowly masses need your professional opinion. This does not suck.
Here – take it all!
GEAR: Need a new GPS watch? Of course you do. Your pinky toe doesn’t feel quite right in those shoes? Get rid of them! You want compression socks in every color, make and model? No problem. What about a fitness tracker? Oh right, you don’t need that. People should actually be tracking you.
COACHING: Wake-up, do what your coach tells you, win epic races with prize money, repeat. Don’t worry your pretty little mind about details like speed work, long runs and rest days, it’s all meticuloiusly planned out for you.
Teach me everything you know Alberto!
RACING: So you have a lot more pressure on race day since you’re livelihood and career depend on your winning or placing but, you get your own bathroom. That alone should make all the work worth it. You also get to stay warm and/or dry in an elite tent or other accommodations right up until the start of the race. You also have your own bottle with fluids you chose, on the course, set up on a separate table with your name on it. And let’s not forget the fame and glory when you win…and sometimes when you lose. It’s a win/win or win/lose/win, you get the idea.
Meb could come in dead last and everyone would still love him.
MASSAGES: You want a massage? It’s mandatory you fool, now get your athletic ass on the table and relax yo’self. I’m pretty sure you get to do this once a day if you chose. Everyday.
They even put flowers in your hair!
NAPS: These are required. You know how in the crappy job you have now, a quarterly review with your boss is required? Well, as a professional athlete, naps are now required. NAPS! You now get paid for sleeping.
It’s not always pretty but someone has to do it!
My question to you is, if you could enjoy ONE of these luxuries for an entire year, what would you choose?
It’s an agonizing decision so, take your time…
I would enjoy massages. They are so nice (deep tissue are my favorite…painful but they do what they need too). I would love to not have to pay for them for an entire year.
I try so hard to schedule them on a regular basis but they always seem to lose priority. My massage therapist is amazing and only charges $65 for and hour and half! Amazing.
Not sure I could pick just one, but the naps, massages and clothing are in my top three! 😉
I would need the personal chef/nutritionist in there but otherwise, I completely agree!!
Is there any question? Someone give me a lifetime of naps please!!! Life of an elite is tough yet rewarding. I don’t think I could ever do it but I admire every single one of them! I have never thought about what their life must be like but you certainly gave me some great insight today!
It’s a VERY tough life for sure but there definitely are some great perks. I have to agree with giving napping top billing but massages and food would be close seconds!
Food hands down. If someone could just have my meals out and ready so I never have to ponder or think about it that would be my dream come true.
PREACH!!! That truly would be a dream come true for me. I hate grocery shopping, cooking and thinking about getting the right amounts of nutrients.
Massages. All day everyday. With flowers in my hair. Of course.
But of course!!!
Mine actually would be between coaching and gear/clothing. I am pretty sure whoever did my diet would not include ice cream…so that is out :). I really can’t nap…or very rarely. I actually can, but I will lay awake for WAY too long at night if I do….so that is out. I have actually never had a massage (except my husband has watched a few you tube videos and done them for me). The coaching would be GREAT for me now, but when I am done shooting for a PR bring on the gear! I love running stuff…shoes (especially shoes), hoodies, socks, vests, headbands :). I work from home so it is all I wear 🙂
You are so great Jen! I’m sure you can have ice cream after you win the Boston Marathon or something 🙂
Too funny. What does Tina have to say about this, I wonder? Since I’m a blogger, I have to admit I get my fair share of free duds and shoes and gadgets to try, so that would not be on my list. I do nap every now and again, too. I think I’d go with the free coach who dials everything in for you. Can we throw in a chef, too? No?
I pictured Tina reading this and laughing! I know SOME of this applies to her but not all of it AND it’s such a tough, tough life. I give all of them so much credit but, if I could have a personal chef for my entire family, it would be a dream come true!
AH! A chef for my family…YES. That way I would stop having to say “I have no idea” to the question what is for dinner when it is 5 o’clock and my kids are asking 🙂
Interesting question…I don’t know which one of these I would choose, but I thought your question was going to be would you rather be the recreational runner that you are, or the pro-runner that has to do all these things, and I would rather remain a recreational runner. Add the pressure of having sponsors and trying to win or beat a certain time, and I think it would take the joy out of running for me. It would take away the mental calm running gives me and give me stress instead. http://www.momontherunsanity.com
Absolutely! I’m making light of it here but they lead very high pressure lives and most often have other jobs to supplement income. It’s not an easy life at all, and I’m sure some of the joy is lost when it’s your job…but still…naps and massages? Pretty cool perks 🙂
Love this! I would totally chose the clothes/shoes, hands down, although the accommodations at races sound amazing, especially with the private bathroom and bottles of fluids.
I know, right? So hard to choose!
Massages, naps, clothes…however, I don’t think I’d care for having to watch what I eat. I like food too much!
If I could only pick one perk the elites have it would be getting massages whenever I want at no charge. I know people like Meb sometimes get them twice a week. That would be AH-mazing!
I think I would have to go with the food plan because I hate doing that, but regular massages would be a close second!
I would not want this life, but a personal chef sounds amazing.
I would pick the gear! I have to say I would love to have a coach and have my meals meticulously planned out. I am kind of type A so living on a schedule would be great if I can occasionally break it if I need to.
I’d have to go with the meals too!!
I would take the food piece…since that is my absolute nemesis! Also if they could feed and figure out healthy meals for my kids that would be great.
Right? And live in my house and do all the grocery shopping! Dream.come.true.
I would choose chef. Trying to balance family and training that would be one less thing to worry about
Agreed!!
Massages. Hands down. Close second would be the clothes/shoes/gear. Actually, now I want a massage right now!! Thanks a lot, Allie!
Go get one mama!!! You, of all people, deserve pretty much anything you want right now!
Massage and FOOD! I don’t want to have to think about food, prepare food or purchase food. I want food to magically appear in front of me!
Yes, yes and hell yes!
Can I ask who pay a for all these luxury things like the massage and treatments? 🙂
It may sound really luxurious, but most times I think these elites are getting massaged by a personal trainer or physical therapist to work out certain muscles, trouble spots, etc. It’s an excellent question about who pays, and I’m not sure who pays for what because every elite has different terms in their contracts. I would like some of it is paid for by sponsors who “sponsor” all of their training and massages go along with it.
Hands down I would choose unlimited running shoes and clothes – I have issues and want all colors, styles……
I can definitely understand those “issues” as I cannot stop buying gear and shoes!!
clothing! duh!
Hahaha – but of course!
Haha! The message, definitely! I would give anything. I know a girl here who gets a prenatal massage once a week and I thought that was pretty good!
Wow – that is great! I try very hard to schedule massages at least once a month but it usually ends up being more like once every three months!!
I’m tempted to say about the food one… as long as treats are included in there in moderation. I’m also tempted about the clothes one..
This is tough.
To not be a ninny and to answer completely I choose food.
I agree with you 100% and if I could add my kids into the mix of free/prepared food, I would chose it even quicker! Thanks Tamara!!